Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M15/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
  • D06M15/19—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
  • D06M15/21—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • D06M15/31—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds of unsaturated nitriles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/002—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches with controlled internal environment
  • A41D13/005—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches with controlled internal environment with controlled temperature
  • A41D13/0053—Cooled garments
  • A41D13/0055—Cooled garments by means of dry ice
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D31/00—Materials specially adapted for outerwear
  • A41D31/04—Materials specially adapted for outerwear characterised by special function or use
  • A41D31/06—Thermally protective, e.g. insulating
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C69/00—Combinations of shaping techniques not provided for in a single one of main groups B29C39/00 - B29C67/00, e.g. associations of moulding and joining techniques; Apparatus therefore
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M14/00—Graft polymerisation of monomers containing carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds on to fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials
  • D06M14/02—Graft polymerisation of monomers containing carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds on to fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials on to materials of natural origin

Definitions

• Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to fabrics used for apparel and other goods having designed performance characteristics, and in particular to fabrics that utilize a pattern of cooling elements coupled to a base fabric to enhance cooling and/or wicking.
• Fabric performance characteristic materials such as wicking materials and the like typically take the form of uniform layers that are woven into or otherwise incorporated into the interior of a garment. The purpose of these materials may be to enhance wicking and thereby cool the body. However, many fabrics branded as having "cooling" properties do not perform a cooling function, and only serve to enhance breathability. Cooling fabrics that do incorporate a layer of cooling materials, such as cooling gels and phase change materials, also have
• a uniform layer of cooling material may not transfer moisture vapor or allow air passage.
• such cooling materials may not have the desired
• the use of a layer of cooling material may impede the breathability (or another function) of the underlying base fabric.
• Figure 1 A is a perspective view of an example of a portion of a garment made with a cooling fabric having a base fabric and cooling elements disposed thereon, in accordance with various embodiments;
• Figure 1 B is a perspective view of the underside of the cooling fabric illustrated in Figure 1A, when the cooling elements are in a dry state, in accordance with various embodiments;
• Figure 1C is a cross sectional view of the cooling fabric illustrated in Figure 1A when the cooling elements are in a dry state, in accordance with various embodiments;
• Figure 1 D is a perspective view of the underside of the cooling fabric illustrated in Figure 1 A when the cooling elements are in a wet state, in accordance with various embodiments;
• Figure 1 E is a cross sectional view of the cooling fabric illustrated in Figure 1A when the cooling elements are in a wet state, in accordance with various embodiments;
• Figure 2 is a thermal image of an example of a pattern of cooling elements on a base fabric, in accordance with various embodiments
• Figures 3A-3F illustrate a variety of specific, non-limiting examples of patterns of individual cooling elements for use in accordance with various
• Figures 4A-4F illustrate a variety of specific, non-limiting examples of patterns of interconnected cooling elements for use in accordance with various embodiments.
• the description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of embodiments of the present invention.
• Coupled may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
• a phrase in the form "A B” or in the form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B).
• a phrase in the form "at least one of A, B, and C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).
• a phrase in the form "(A)B” means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.
• fabrics for clothing and other body gear may use a pattern of cooling elements coupled to or integrated with a base fabric to manage moisture and body heat by absorbing heat and enhancing wicking when exposed to moisture, while still maintaining the desired properties of the base fabric.
• the cooling elements may include cooling gels or polymers and/or phase change materials.
• the cooling elements may undergo a chemical and/or physical change when exposed to moisture, and/or may absorb energy, thus cooling the skin of the wearer.
• the chemical and/or physical change also may entail a conformational change, which may stretch portions of the base fabric, thus enlarging fabric pores and increasing breathability and/or wicking of the base fabric.
• FIG. 1 A is a perspective view of an example of a portion of a garment made with a cooling fabric having a base fabric and cooling elements disposed thereon, in accordance with various embodiments.
• a plurality of individual cooling elements 100 may be disposed on a base fabric 102 in a generally non-continuous array, whereby some of the base fabric 102 may be exposed between adjacent cooling elements.
• the cooling elements may be arranged in an array of separate elements, whereas in other embodiments discussed at greater length below, the cooling elements may be arranged in an interconnected pattern.
• each individual cooling element may take the form of a closed loop member, such as a closed circle, square, hexagon, or other closed shape that may include a center portion 106 wherein the base fabric is exposed.
• cooling elements 100 may include one or more cooling materials, such as a cooling gel or a phase change material.
• cooling elements 100 may cover a sufficient surface area of the base fabric 102 to achieve the desired degree of cooling, for example, having a surface coverage area of cooling elements 100 of about 15 - 80%, about 25 - 70%, about 30 - 65%, or about 40 - 60% in various embodiments. This coverage range leaves about 20 - 85%, about 30 - 75%, about 35 - 65%, or about 40 - 60% of the base fabric 102 uncovered in various embodiments.
• base fabric 102 should be exposed to provide the desired base fabric function (e.g., stretch, drape, breathability, moisture vapor transfer, air permeability, and/or wicking). For example, if there is too little exposed base fabric, properties such as moisture vapor transfer and/or permeability may suffer greatly, and even
• the base fabric 102 may be a part of any form of clothing or bodywear, which term is used herein to include anything worn on the body, including, but not limited to, athletic wear such as compression garments, t-shirts, shorts, tights, sleeves, headbands and the like, outerwear such as jackets, pants, scarves, shirts, hats, gloves, mittens, and the like, footwear such as shoes, boots, slippers, and the like, sleepwear, such as pajamas, nightgowns, and robes, and undergarments such as underwear, thermal underwear, undershirts, brassieres, socks, hosiery, and the like.
• athletic wear such as compression garments, t-shirts, shorts, tights, sleeves, headbands and the like
• outerwear such as jackets, pants, scarves, shirts, hats, gloves, mittens, and the like
• footwear such as shoes, boots, slippers, and the like
• sleepwear such as pajamas, nightgowns, and
• the array of cooling elements 100 may be disposed on a base fabric 102 having one or more desired properties.
• the underlying base fabric 102 may have properties such as air permeability, absorbance, moisture vapor transfer, and/or wickability, which are common needs for bodywear used in both indoor and outdoor applications.
• the underlying base fabric 102 may have other desirable attributes, such as abrasion resistance, anti-static properties, anti-microbial activity, water repellence, flame repellence, hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, wind resistance, UV protection, resiliency, stain resistance, wrinkle resistance, and the like.
• the areas of uncovered base fabric 102 between and/or inside cooling elements 100 may help allow the base fabric 102 to have a desired drape, look, stretch, and/or texture.
• suitable base fabrics 102 may include nylon, polyester, rayon, cotton, spandex, wool, silk, or a blend thereof, or any other material having a desired look, feel, weight, thickness, weave, texture, or other desired property.
• configuring the cooling fabric to allow a designated percentage of the base fabric 102 to remain uncovered by the cooling elements 100 may allow that portion of the base fabric 102 to perform the desired functions, while still leaving enough surface area of cooling elements 100 to cool the body to a desired degree.
• single-layer bodywear may be used, and may be comprised of a single layer of the base fabric 102, whereas other embodiments may use multiple layers of fabric, including, for example, one or more additional layers of the base fabric or another fabric.
• the base fabric 102 may be used as a fabric lining for bodywear.
• cooling elements 100 may be positioned in such a way and may be made of a material that is conducive for absorbing heat generated by the body.
• cooling elements 100 may undergo a physical or chemical change when exposed to moisture, such as water or sweat, and this physical or chemical change may result in the absorbance of heat, thus providing cooling to the body of the wearer.
• Figure 1 B shows a perspective view of the underside of the cooling fabric illustrated on Figure 1A
• Figure 1C shows a cross-sectional view of the cooling fabric illustrated in Figure 1A when the cooling elements are in a dry state, in accordance with various embodiments.
• cooling elements 100 are disposed on a lower surface of the base fabric 102 (e.g., an inside surface of the body gear, facing the skin), placing the cooling elements 100 in a good position for absorbing body heat and sweat from the skin of a user.
• FIGS 1 B and 1C illustrate a cooling fabric in which cooling elements 100 are coupled to a lower or inside surface of base fabric 102
• cooling elements 100 instead may be coupled to an upper or outside surface of base fabric 102 in other embodiments, depending on the desired properties of the cooling fabric.
• the wicking or moisture vapor transfer properties of the base fabric may allow moisture (such as water, water vapor, or sweat) from the body to reach the cooling elements 100 as the moisture passes through the base fabric.
• cooling elements 100 may be at least partially integrated into or may at least partially permeate base fabric 102.
• cooling elements 100 may be applied to a lower or inside surface of base fabric 102 in such a way as to cause cooling elements 100 to adopt a convex shape in relation to the skin surface 104, and that may generally cause cooling elements 100 to curve away from the body when in the dry state (see, e.g., Figures 1 B and 1 C).
• cooling elements 100 in the dry state when cooling elements 100 in the dry state (e.g., Figures 1 B and 1 C) are exposed to moisture, such as water, water vapor, or sweat, they may absorb moisture and undergo a chemical and/or physical change that may absorb heat from the body of the wearer and that also may result in a conformational change that causes the cooling elements 100 to adopt a concave shape (see, e.g., Figures 1 D and 1 E). Cooling elements 100 that have undergone this conformational change may be referred to as being in the "wet state," although one of skill in the art will appreciate that the cooling elements may not feel wet to a user.
• a cooling element in the wet state may undergo another conformational change and revert to its "dry state" conformation as water evaporates from the cooling element. In various embodiments, this process may be repeated many times, such as 100, 1 ,000, 10,000, or even more times through the lifespan of the fabric. [0027] As described above, in various embodiments, this chemical and/or physical change may involve an energy transformation that may cause cooling elements 100 to absorb heat, for example cooling the skin of the user.
• the conformational change may cause portions of base fabric 102, for example portions of the base fabric in the center portion 106 of each cooling element 100, to be stretched, which may enlarge the pores of the weave of base fabric 102, thereby enhancing breathability and wickability of base fabric 102 in these regions.
• FIG. 2 is a thermal image of an example of a pattern of cooling elements on a base fabric, in accordance with various embodiments.
• the cooling elements 100 may register as a cooler temperature than the base fabric 102 on a thermogram, for example when exposed to moisture.
• cooling elements 100 may include a cooling gel and/or polymer, which may absorb heat when exposed to moisture.
• cooling gels and/or polymers may include, for example, any suitable natural or synthetic polymeric material that, in a dry form, is capable of absorbing and storing many times its weight in water.
• natural gums that may be used as cooling polymers include xanthan, agar, pectin, locust bean gum, hydroxypropyl guar gum, polyglucomannan gum, cationic guar gum, anionic guar gum, alginate, irish moss, and gum arabic.
• cellulosics that may be used as cooling polymers include methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxy ethyl cellulose,
• hydroxyethyl cellulose hydroxymethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropylcellulose.
• synthetic hydrogel polymers that may be used as cooling gels include suitable crosslinked, water-swellable acrylic copolymers.
• the synthetic hydrogel polymers may include, without limitation, copolymers that include repeat units from one or more monomers selected from (meth)acrylic acid, maleic acid, 2-(meth)acrylamido-2- methyl propane sulfonic acid, styrene sulfonate, vinyl sulfonic acid, and their corresponding ammonia, amine and alkali metal salts, (meth)acrylamide, vinyl alcohol, vinyl acetate, maleic anhydride, alkyl vinyl ethers, vinylmorpholinone, vinylpyrridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, and acrylonitrile; and one or more crosslinking agents selected from N,N'-methylenebis(meth)acrylamide, (poly)ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, (poly)propylene glycol di(meth)acrylate
• cooling polymers may include paraffin (C n H 2 n 2+ ), fatty acids (CH 3 (CH 2 )2nCOOH), salt hydrates (M n H 2 O), hygroscopic materials,
• the cooling gel may include polyacrylate and/or sodium polyacrylate mixed or cross-linked with a non- soluble compound, such as polyurethane.
• thermoplastic elastomers which are thermoplastic elastomers that may include at least three blocks, for instance two hard polystyrene end blocks and one soft, elastomeric (e.g., polybutadiene, polyisoprene, or their hydrogenated equivalents) midblock.
• the hard and soft blocks may be immiscible, so that, on a microscopic scale, the polystyrene blocks form separate domains in the rubber matrix, thereby providing physical cross links to the rubber.
• cooling polymers that may be used in performance characteristic elements include those available under the trade names ALCOSORB® from Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Chatanooga, Tenn.; DRYTECH® from the Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich.; NORSOCRYL® and AQUAKEEP® from Atofina, Paris, France; HYDROSORBTM from HYDROSORB Inc., Orange, Calif.; and AQUALIC CA from Nippon, Shokubai Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan.
• the cooling elements may include a phase change material.
• phase change materials may have the capability of absorbing or releasing thermal energy to reduce or eliminate heat transfer at the temperature stabilizing range of the particular phase change material.
• the phase change material may inhibit or stop the flow of thermal energy during the time the phase change material is absorbing or releasing heat, typically during the material's change of phase. In various embodiments, this action may be transient, e.g., it may be effective as a barrier to thermal energy until the total latent heat of the temperature stabilizing material is absorbed or released during the heating or cooling process.
• thermal energy may be stored or removed from the phase change material, and may be effectively recharged by a source of heat or cold.
• a performance characteristic element may be created for use in a particular application where the stabilization of temperatures is desired.
• two or more different phase change materials may be used to address particular temperature ranges, and such materials may be mixed.
• phase change materials that may be used as described herein generally include paraffinic hydrocarbons having 13 to 28 carbon atoms.
• the melting point of a homologous series of paraffin hydrocarbons may be directly related to the number of carbon atoms as shown in the following table:
• the cooling elements 100 may be any suitable cooling elements 100.
• the cooling elements may be coupled to the base fabric by frequency welding, such as by radio or ultrasonic welding.
• the cooling elements may be coupled to the base fabric using gravure coating.
• the gravure coating process may use an engraved roller running in a coating bath, which fills the engraved dots or lines of the roller with the coating material (e.g., the gel making up the cooling elements). The excess coating on the roller may be wiped off using a blade, and the coating may then be deposited onto the substrate (e.g., the base fabric) as it passes between the engraved roller and a pressure roller.
• the gravure coating process may include direct gravure, reverse gravure, or differential offset gravure, and in various embodiments, the coat weight may be controlled by the percent of solids, the gravure volume, the pattern depth, and/or the speed of the gravure cylinder.
• the heat management material elements may be applied in a pattern or a continuous or discontinuous array.
• the cooling elements may take the form of an array of closed loop members, such as rings, adhered or otherwise secured to the base fabric in a desired pattern.
• Such a configuration has been found to provide cooling to the user while still allowing the base fabric to perform desired properties (e.g., breathe and allow moisture vapor to escape through the fabric in order to reduce the level of moisture build up).
• desired properties e.g., breathe and allow moisture vapor to escape through the fabric in order to reduce the level of moisture build up.
• discontinuous, discrete, separate cooling elements may take the form of circles, triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons, octagons, stars, crosses, crescents, ovals, or any other substantially closed loop member that includes a center portion inside the closed loop member wherein the base fabric remains exposed.
• cooling elements may be arranged such that they are in connection with one another, such as a lattice pattern or any other pattern that permits partial coverage of the base fabric.
• the configuration of cooling elements disposed on a base fabric may be in the form of a variety of partially or completely, and the pattern may combine both discontinuous elements (such as those illustrated in Figures 3A - 3F) and interconnected geometrical patterns (such as those illustrated in Figures 4A - 4F).
• the pattern of cooling elements may be symmetrical, ordered, random, and/or asymmetrical.
• the pattern of cooling elements may be disposed on the base fabric at strategic locations to improve the performance of the bodywear.
• the size and/or spacing of the cooling elements may also be varied in different areas of the bodywear to balance the need for enhanced cooling properties and preserve the functionality of the base fabric.
• the percentage of base fabric surface area covered by the cooling elements to the surface are of base fabric left uncovered by the cooling elements may be from about 25% to about 67%. This range has been shown to provide a good balance of cooling properties with the desired properties of the base fabric (e.g., breathability or wicking, for instance). In particular embodiments, this percentage of surface area coverage may be about 30% to about 65%, or about 40% to about 60%.
• the placement, pattern, and/or coverage ratio of the cooling elements may vary.
• the cooling elements may be concentrated in certain areas where cooling may be more critical (e.g., the body core) and non existent or extremely limited in other areas where the function of the base fabric property is more critical.
• different areas of the bodywear may have different coverage ratios, e.g. 67% at the chest and 30% at the limbs, in order to help optimize, for example, the need for cooling and breathability.
• the size of the cooling elements may be largest (or the spacing between them may be the smallest) in the core regions of the body for enhanced cooling in those areas, and the size of the cooling elements may be the smallest (or the spacing between them may be the largest) in peripheral areas of the body.
• the degree of coverage by the cooling elements may vary in a gradual fashion over the entire garment as needed for regional cooling.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
• Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)
• Drying Of Gases (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)

Priority Applications (9)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=48465553

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (36)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (23)

• 2012
  • 2012-11-28 TW TW101144452A patent/TWI507581B/zh active
  • 2012-11-29 CN CN201280007553.9A patent/CN103380245B/zh active Active
  • 2012-11-29 KR KR1020137010605A patent/KR101556044B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2012-11-29 WO PCT/US2012/067104 patent/WO2013082305A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-11-29 JP JP2013547737A patent/JP5727041B2/ja active Active
  • 2012-11-29 EP EP12852435.2A patent/EP2643514B1/en active Active
  • 2012-11-29 AU AU2012327245A patent/AU2012327245B2/en active Active
  • 2012-11-29 US US13/689,449 patent/US9062913B2/en active Active
  • 2012-11-29 CA CA2812802A patent/CA2812802C/en active Active
  • 2012-11-29 RU RU2013130029/05A patent/RU2538867C1/ru active
  • 2012-11-29 MX MX2013004328A patent/MX337621B/es active IP Right Grant
• 2013
  • 2013-04-11 ZA ZA2013/02621A patent/ZA201302621B/en unknown

Patent Citations (6)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events